Originated as private venture military transport based on stillborn An-60 64-73 seat civil airliner designed to meet 1967 specification. Revised design, following issue of military requirement in 1968, included relocation of engines above wings; Two static test airfriunes; first of four prototype An-72, built at Kiev, flew (SSSR-197744) 31 August 1977. Production order placed in December 1980 for improved An-72A version; manufacture transferred to Kharkov, Ukraine, where first production An-72 flew 22 December 1985; An-74 also produced at Kharkov from December 1989. An-74 announced February 1984; An-72P maritime patrol version demonstrated 1992. Production of An-74 also started by Polyot Industrial Association at Omsk, Russia, in 1993 (assisted by Progress at Arsenyev); first Polyot aircraft (RA-74050) was flown 25 December 1993. Development of An-74-200 and An-74TK-200 by Antonov started 1995; An-74TK certified by Aeronautical Register (now Interstate Aviation Committee) on 2 August 1991.